By Anonymous on Sep 15, 2018 12:30 am Peter recently sat down with the creators of Dragon Quest XI and he recounts some of the highlights from the interview.
Destiny 2: Forsaken's first Raid is hours away, and we're getting a small peek at what it'll entail and when it will drop. Last Wish will take players and five other guardians into the heart of the Dreaming City, Forsaken's new area, and it will go live on Friday, September 14 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST on PS4, Xbox One, and PC. [Update: The Last Wish Raid is now live on all platforms.]
"Assemble a team…Send them into the heart of the City. Kill that creature, and extract its heart," says the Queen, Mara Sov, in the trailer above. We don't much else about what exactly players will be doing, but it seems the "creature" could be Riven, which was teased at the end of the campaign. The promise is "the riches of the Dreaming City await those who are victorious," so you could be in for some pretty good loot if you successfully complete it. "I've waited so long to fulfil one last wish," Mara Sov finishes.
Some players have already managed to nab some of that Raid gear early. An early bug allowed some players to glitch their way into opening Raid chests and earning the gear. In hotfix update 2.0.2, Bungie fixed the issue, but it won't be taking that gear away from players who've already obtained it.
Meanwhile, players racing to take part in the Raid encountered an issue over the weekend, when a weekly reset took place sooner than it should have. Although players could earn Powerful gear, the rewards were not dropping at high Power levels, thereby stunting the leveling process. Bungie has rolled out a new update that resets these challenges for those affected. And if you're looking for a less-obvious way to earn a piece of Powerful gear, you can try the new Ascendant Challenge. We've also got a leveling guide to get ready for the Raid.
In addition to everything coming in the Last Wish Raid, Bungie has introduced a ton of new content with its Forsaken expansion. In addition to a new storyline, there is a lot of new gear including Exotics (both weapons and armor) for Hunters, Warlocks, and Titans. There are new Strikes and the new Gambit mode that blends PvE with PvP. The campaign centers around hunting the eight Barons, powerful boss-like enemies from the new Scorn race.
In GameSpot's Forsaken review in progress, Kallie Plagge said it was a welcome change from the previous two expansions. "Like with the base game--and unlike with the previous two expansions...there's a lot to sink your teeth into in Forsaken at launch," she wrote. While Kallie is still evaluating the expansion for a full review, she applauded Forsaken's darker more personal tone and boss-focused mission structure that allows for more memorable and exciting fights. There are distinct new enemy types, Gambit mode is enjoyable, and the new combat bow stands out as a fun addition to the arsenal.
"After being let down by Curse of Osiris and Warmind, I'm enjoying Destiny 2 again. The biggest question right now is how long that will last, but there's plenty to keep me occupied before the Raid drops."
It's almost time for WWE's yearly PPV, Hell in a Cell, an event where competitors battle it out inside a ring, which then has a chain link enclosure placed over them. Sometimes, the superstars get out of the cell, and things get crazy from there. On Sunday, September 16, the sports entertainment event comes to the WWE Network, and there are plenty of titles on the line to keep fans entertained, as well as some crazy story lines leading up to the PPV.
The event will air on PPV and the WWE Network at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET / 12 AM BST (Sept. 17), coming to you live from the AT&T Center in Dallas, Texas. There will be a Kickoff Show airing one hour prior that should have a match or two on it as well. As of this writing, there are eight matches booked for the card, and there are bound to be a few more before the event kicks off.
On the Raw side of things, the Shield will have their hands full in two matches, one for the Tag Team Championships and one for the Universal Championship. Additionally, Alexa Bliss gets her rematch with Ronda Rousey. On Smackdown, Becky Lynch gets her shot at the Women's Championship against Charlotte, and Jeff Hardy will face Randy Orton in a Hell in a Cell match.
Obviously, we have a few opinions on what we think is going to happen during the evening as well. Check out all of our predictions for Hell in a Cell, which we will continue to update should new matches or new stipulations get added to the card.
Hell in a Cell match card so far:
Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell match)
Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntrye (c) vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose (Raw Tag Team Championships)
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse
The New Day (c) vs. Rusev & Aiden English (Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch (Smackdown Women's Championship)
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Alexa Bliss (Raw Women's Championship)
AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe (WWE Championship)
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Braun Strowman (Hell in a Call match for the Universal Championship with Mick Foley as guest referee)
Make sure to come back to GameSpot for live coverage of the event.
The New Day (c) vs. Rusev & Aiden English (Smackdown Tag Team Championship)
[KICKOFF SHOW]
The New Day just recently won the tag titles from the Bludgeon Brothers at Summerslam. However, they'll have to face Aiden English and Rusev, who have been extremely over during the past six months, at Hell in a Cell. This could go either way, as the New Day continues to be the tent-pole of Smackdown's tag division. However, it's time Rusev Day got a title, as the crowd still loves them--although some people could make the point his time has come and gone. Regardless, I'm giving the win to Rusev Day, in hopes that English will sing a fine song of victory.
Our prediction: Rusev Day wins
Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell Match)
Why is this a Hell in a Cell match? This is a bit of a head-scratcher. I guess it's so we can see Jeff Hardy jump off of things and attempt fate yet another time. There should be a lot of big spots in this match but neither of these men winning really does anything. Because Hardy lost the U.S. title and couldn't reclaim it, I'm giving him the win here.
Our prediction: Hardy wins
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse
The Bryan/Miz saga continues, but this time, it's a family affair. Both of the men's wives will be joining the fight in this mixed tag match. After their incredibly entertaining match at this year's Summerslam, it'll be interesting to see how this plays out now that Brie and Maryse are part of the match. In order to keep this rivalry going, which is needs to, Bryan and Brie need the win here.
Our prediction: Team Bryan wins
Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch (Smackdown Women's Championship)
I don't think it's any secret that I'm a big fan of Becky Lynch, as well as this storyline with Charlotte. Lynch, as a heel, needs a little bit of work but there is a lot of potential for her character to grow. She and Charlotte are going to put on an amazing match, and there is no question there, but it may be a time for a title change. In typical fashion, I'm giving the win to Becky Lynch, in hopes she can finally have a victory at a PPV. I couldn't tell you the last time she had a singles match win at a major WWE event.
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Alexa Bliss (Raw Women's Championship)
Bliss and Rousey's match at Summerslam was incredibly disappointing, as it was nothing more than a squash match. Rousey winning the title wasn't the problem, but Bliss getting not an ounce of offense in was. It made her look weak and Rousey overpowered. While I'm thinking Rousey will get the win here again, I'm truly hoping this will be an actual match and not just two minutes of Bliss getting beaten down.
Our prediction: Rousey wins
Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntrye (c) vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose (Raw Tag Team Championship)
I'm not a big fan with the Shield reunion, but I'm also not a fan of Braun Strowman turning heel. However, putting the Shield up against Strowman, McIntyre, and Ziggler in two separate title matches is a pretty solid move for the PPV. By the end of the day, one of these two teams is going to walk out with both the Raw Tag Championship and the Universal Champion, and I'd personally like to see Ziggler and McIntyre have a longer run, so they're getting the win.
Our prediction: Ziggler & McIntyre win
AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe (WWE Championship)
The battle rages on between AJ Styles and Samoa Joe. Their Summerslam match obviously wasn't going to be where it all ended, so the two will fight once again at Hell in a Cell. Strangely enough, as of this writing, this is still a normal match, as the last one ended with a DQ. Because of Joe's taunting and messing with Styles' homelife, he's going to break during this match, and Joe will get the win.
Our prediction: Joe wins by way of DQ
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Braun Strowman (Hell in a Cell Match for the Universal Championship)
Hey, Roman Reigns is main eventing another PPV, but at least this time, he has a championship. As I stated earlier, either the Shield or Strowman's group will walk away from Hell in a Cell with both championships. I don't think Mick Foley as the guest referee changes anything about how the match will play out, but I do see Strowman dominating Reigns one more time.
If you've been curious about DC's new streaming service, then you're in luck, as DC Universe launched a day early on September 14, and you can currently register for it here. When it was originally announced, fans of DC Comics and Entertainment were pretty surprised, but nonetheless, excited. The new subscription streaming app combines traditional TV and movies with comic books and even an encyclopedia. It's incredibly ambitious. And while the early experience we had with the beta version of the app was fun, it leaving us want a bit more.
Obviously, as with any beta app or service, DC Universe isn't entirely ready for market. There are bugs here and there, and this exact version won't hit the direct market. Additionally, there will be more content on the service when it launches on September 15, like when the original series Titans hits releases on October 12. DC Universe will cost $75 a year or $8 a month.
DC Universe's design is simple to navigate and visually appealing. The home screen offers up a features screen at the top with rotated recommended viewing, which usually pertains to something big. For instance, right now, the Teen Titans comic is featured, to go along with the upcoming release of the Titans TV series. Below that is your "Continue watching" section, and right below that is news. That home page does not feel overwhelming even though there are a variety of choices between the three pillars of DCU (movies, TV, and comics).
Movies & TV
Obviously, upon first glance, what DCU has to offer is very Batman-heavy. There's still a lot to choose from though that doesn't involve the Dark Knight. There are a few hidden gems like Fox's Human Target series and NBC's Constantine to binge. At first glance, it may not seem like it, when scrolling through the entirety of DCU's video catalogue, but there is a lot to watch, and most of it is undoubtedly good stuff. Although, a part of me still wants to watch Batman & Robin over and over again for those white hot Mr. Freeze puns. Obviously, the original DCU content is not live, but that should to be the overall driving force. The functions missing during playback for TV series, which is desperately needed, is a "play next" button for end credits of episodes and a "skip intro" button. As much as I love Young Justice, I do not want to see the intro over and over while I'm bingeing.
While this service is still new and has a ton to grow, the lack of certain content begs the question, "Where are all the DC extended universe movies?" It's already been stated we wouldn't see any of the CW series on DCU, as there are issues with the rights currently--but you'll be able to purchase them through the app--so could that be the same reason we're not seeing these films as well? These should be tentpoles and a reason non-comic book readers and casual DC enthusiasts would sign up for the service. There are also other films the service is missing, including Watchmen, Red, V for Vendetta, and The Losers, as well as a few cinematic releases that critically fell flat like Steel, Green Lantern, and Jonah Hex. I'm the type of user that would love to see both the good and the bad on the service, as I'll watch it all, and I know there are others like me.
Comics, Community, & Encyclopedia
Inside the comic book section of DCU, the selection was pretty nice. There are a variety of selections from different eras, some of which tied into upcoming releases of movies and DCU originals. There's an autoplay feature that goes through the comic, panel-by-panel, that's really smooth, and it shows that this is a feature that would work exceptionally well when it's cast onto a television. It has the same familiarity as a service like Comixology but with its own flavor, which actually makes it a bit easier to use for those new to digital reading. While it won't get the credit it deserves, the comics section of DCU is one of the two standouts of the service.
Accompanying the comic section as something new for a streaming service is the encyclopedia section. It's concise and exceptionally well-written. You get to see detailed information about each character or team on an easy-to-navigate front page. Subheadings allow the users to peruse the info without feeling like it's an info-dump. Finally, there is a related content section that, in theory, will allow users to check out movies, TV series, and comics featuring these characters or teams. However, in the early beta, this section would not work and neither would the entire encyclopedia index. Regardless, this is a tremendous standout and perfect to keep users engaged in the app. And if there was a way to incorporate this into movies or TV shows, like Amazon's X-Ray mode, it would be a grand slam homerun.
The biggest aspect to fall flat on its face for an older reader like myself is the community aspect of the DCU app. For the most part, it's another place for people to shout their opinions into the abyss. While there aren't many people using this section yet, as the beta has yet to launch as of this writing, it's got a few threads like "Favorite Episode of Young Justice," where users can discuss everything they love--and hate--about comics and properties based on DC characters. The only area that shows a bunch of potential is the "Creators Corner," which was empty. From the looks of it, this section will have writers, artists, and more from DC Comics discussing all things related to publishing, which is a pretty exciting addition to a section I never really plan on spending a lot of time in.
Casting
Obviously, like any streaming service, a part of the appeal is being able to watch content on a mobile device or on your TV at home. There are a few small bumps in the road with DCU to begin with, but it's nothing that should turn you off completely from subscribing. While using an iPad, DCU worked incredibly well with Apple TV. Both movies and television shows streamed seamlessly with no hiccups or problems.
There was, however, a button to connect to Chromecast as well--something we were told at San Diego Comic-Con that we would not see when the service launched. We tried casting DCU through two different Chromecasts, connected to two different TVs and had no luck. Chances are that casting is simply not ready for the service. Additionally, we could not use Apple TV or Chromecast to read comic books on our TVs. This was known going into the beta, but we still tried anyway, as it looked really cool during the demo we saw at Comic-Con. The service will also be launching with Roku and Amazon Firestick as well in case you want to watch DCU on your TV.
Additionally, there is a shopping section which was not up and running at that point, but it will be in time for the launch. We've been told you'll be able to purchase things like movies and TV series within that section, including episodes and seasons of the CW series.
As someone who has been on the ground level for plenty of new streaming services when they launched, like Netflix, WWE Network, Amazon Video, and Hulu, DC Universe follows in its predecessor's footsteps of trying to be its own voice without being a complete replica of them. There will be growing pains, and it will be some time before DCU truly gets its footing. However, the plan of a new original series episode, every week, for a year straight is incredibly promising for DCU's opening year. Yes, the lack of DC including some of its movies is a huge disappointment, but it seems like the company is taking a risk and trying something very different with its service. DC Universe, as a beta, isn't filled with too many bugs and actually works exceptionally well for something this large. The only real downside is the lack of certain content, specifically the DCEUDC extended cinematic universe movies. DC Universe will be a thrill to DC Comics readers and enthusiasts but doesn't have that mass appeal it needs yet. Hopefully, that will change with the release of series like Titans.
The Good
The Bad
Functional layout
Lack of DCU movies and CW TV shows was disappointing
Destiny 2's ever elusive merchant Xur is back and he's got more Exotic armor and a weapon for sale. Bad luck if you're a Titan and hoping for a new helmet, because Xur is only selling an Exotic helmet for Warlocks and Hunters this week.
Xur doesn't appear on the map, so finding him can be a bit tricky. This weekend, you can find him in the Winding Cove in the European Dead Zone. He's returned to his usual spot in the sector, and you'll find the shadowy merchant chilling all by his lonesome. Just spawn in at the landing zone and make your way directly north. He can be found on a hill next to a crashed ship.
Like last week, Xur has a limited selection of items for sale. In terms of Exotics, he's selling one weapon, as well as one piece of armor for each of the three classes. Warlocks and Hunters have a new helmet, while Titans can buy a pair of gauntlets. Thankfully, the bug that removed the Fated Engram--an item that guarantees you an Exotic you don't already own--from Xur's inventory last week has been patched, so you can once again buy one this week.
Here's the full list of what Exotics Xur has for sale right now:
Xur Exotic Armor And Weapon Inventory
Sunshot (Exotic Hand Cannon)
Eye Of Another World (Exotic Warlock Helmet)
Graviton Forfeit (Exotic Hunter Helmet)
Wormgod Caress (Exotic Titan Gauntlets)
Just because you see an Exotic you already own doesn't mean you shouldn't buy it. Xur sells versions of Exotics that feature different perks than what can be found, and they sometimes have a higher Power level too. Repurchasing an Exotic could save you the time of finding and spending the necessary Masterwork Cores to infuse the ones you already own. With Destiny 2: Forsaken's new Raid out, you'll need every advantage you can find.
We've enjoyed our time with Forsaken so far, giving Destiny 2's newest expansion an 8/10 in our review-in-progress. We'll be updating our review after we've completed the Raid, so stayed tuned for our final thoughts. If you're interested in tackling the Raid yourself, we've got a guide of useful tips to get you Raid-ready.
Destiny 2 is available on Xbox One, PS4, and PC. Forsaken is live across all platforms.
Editor's note: Three years after its initial release on PC, Undertale has found its way to the Nintendo Switch--and of course, the game is every bit as charming, challenging, and harrowing as it was the first time around. Undertale may seem like a straightforward retro-style RPG, but it subverts player expectations every chance it gets, which never gets stale because of clever writing and an evocative chiptune soundtrack. Thankfully, it plays just as well as it does on other platforms without any performance hitches or bugs after putting about four hours into this version. Like its console counterparts, you can fill the screen with an adaptive border that thematically fits with the location you're in (Undertale plays in a 4:3 aspect ratio). Dodging enemy attacks in the bullet hell-style defensive phase in combat works just as well with the Joy-Con analog sticks.
Undertale isn't afraid to break convention, and because it does so in a way that's thoughtful and humorous throughout, the result is an emotional rollercoaster that fills us with determination. -- Michael Higham, 14 September 2018 [We have updated the score to reflect our experience with the Nintendo Switch version, in addition to the PC, Mac, and PS4 versions. The original review follows below.]
Undertale's opening cinematic hints at a cliche RPG where you awake in a mysterious world and embark on a journey in hopes of returning to your normal life. Despite the familiar premise, you quickly discover that looks can be deceiving. While many games can take a heavy-handed approach to teaching you the basics, Undertale does so in a way that not only introduces you to the tone of the game, but teaches you not to accept anything at face value. The first character you meet compels you to play nice, but as the cheerful music turns to sinister laughter and your new "friend" declares you an idiot, you get it: expect the unexpected. Undertale makes a name for itself with unusual storytelling techniques and combat mechanics, setting itself apart from the games it seems to imitate. It's also cleverly written and constantly subverts your expectations. There are so many wonderful experiences in store that are tempting to spoil, but to go into too much detail would ruin the element of surprise: one of Undertale's best assets.
While it seems to be a game that's designed for RPG fans first and foremost, a lot of Undertale's jokes have universal appeal. A pair of comically incompetent skeletons regularly spout puns and jokes while attempting--and failing--to halt your progress, and the social ineptitude exhibited by one character when they try to express their feelings for another is a regular source of laughter. With clever characterization and unexpected responses to actions we've been conditioned to view as predictable, Undertale elicits laughter and delight with ease.
You're encouraged to stop and engage with NPCs rather than charge through the story, and you should, because the varied and entertaining cast of monsters reveal valuable information about the wider world. This quality isn't unique, but here, it leads to unusual exchanges that are filled with great quips, simultaneously poking fun at games and human nature alike. The script tip-toes into parody, but an air of earnest thought lifts it above mere mockery. Silly as it can be, Undertale delivers poignant observations that challenge the status-quo.
It's also the sort of experience that encourages you to come back for a second or third round. This is especially true because, over the course of roughly five hours, you make a lot of decisions that impact the world around you. The importance of choice is often felt during combat, which lets you pick between fighting or talking your way out of conflict.
Sometimes the secret to winning is a little bit of love.
Trying to pacify opponents is a far more rewarding experience than simply fighting, and its a process that's unique to each type of enemy. To earn their favor, you have to analyse an enemy's behavior and figure out the right course of action. In one scenario, you can attempt to befriend a violent dog, in another, you might want to cheer up a ghost with low self-esteem; your success will depend on your ability to empathize and react. Navigating social puzzles is a refreshing change of pace for what seems like traditional combat, and the variety of distinct, entertaining enemies you engage with helps stave off a problem that's all-too-common in other RPGs: repetitive random encounters.
Because not all enemies are easily wooed, you eventually need to defend yourself regardless if you intend to fight or not. Undertale handles this with a quirky mechanic that feels out of place at first, but it eventually grows on you because it makes combat engaging and unpredictable in a good way. Enemy attacks appear as waves of projectiles that fly within a square pen, and as they fly by, you have to steer a small heart icon out of their flightpath to avoid taking damage. It's an unusual mechanic, but it's simple to understand and rewarding in the sense that it lets your reflexes-rather than statistics or dice rolls--dictate the outcome of a fight.
The variety of distinct, entertaining enemies you engage with helps stave off a problem that's all-too-common in other RPGs: repetitive random encounters.
Even within combat, Undertale layers on the humor. Sometimes you're dodging bullets, but you also need to watch out for frogs, arms with flexing biceps, and even the tears of a depressed opponent. Linking the shape, size, and behavior of projectiles with enemies' personalities keeps things challenging, and opens the door for even more laughs as you fend off absurd attacks.
Hey, what are friends for?
It would be a crime not to mention Undertale's soundtrack, which is loaded with beautiful bit-based melodies that blend perfectly with the action on-screen. Each boss gets its own theme song, which do a great job of enhancing their particular personality. These tracks in particular bring energy and vigor, putting you on the edge of your seat as you try to fight or befriend your opponent. Outside of battle, tracks set the appropriate mood, too, from the quirky jingle in Temmie Village, to somber melodies that build tension near the end of the game. Regardless of its retro style, Undertale's soundtrack has timeless appeal and is great at evoking emotions.
Without spoiling the many ways it will screw with your expectations, it isn't possible to truly capture how wonderful Undertale is. You wouldn't know it with a passing glance, but it's one of the most progressive and innovative RPGs to come in a long time, breaking down tradition for the sake of invention, with great success.
By Anonymous on Sep 14, 2018 11:19 pm This week Xur has brought back with him Fated Engrams, Sunshot, Graviton Forfeit, Wormgod's Caress, and Eye Of Another World.
PS4 players got to check out Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's private Blackout beta earlier this week, but it's now available for Xbox One and PC players who have pre-ordered the game. The beta went live September 14 and will last until September 17. A PC open beta is scheduled to begin September 15, giving players a chance to play without having to pre-order.
Blackout is the series' first battle royale-like mode, in which a large number of players drop onto a map, search for gear, and try to be the last one standing as the playable area shrinks, ushering everyone closer together (and making them more likely to get into firefights). Unlike similar modes in Fortnite and PUBG, Blackout contains many elements found in previous Call of Duty games, including zombies and returning Black Ops characters.
Developer Treyarch made changes big and small throughout the PS4 beta, doing things like upping the player count from 80 to 88 and decreasing the amount of time it takes to pick up items. The developer says it will continue to make changes on a daily basis.
The Xbox One and PC private beta will be available until September 17 at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET / 5 PM GMT). The PC open beta begins September 15 at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET / 5 PM GMT) and ends on September 17 at the same time as the private beta.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is set to arrive on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on October 12. It comes in a number of editions, each of which offers a different set of add-ons. You can find full details in our Black Ops 4 pre-order guide.
On top of access to online play and a library of classic NES games, one of the perks of subscribing to the upcoming Nintendo Switch Online service is "special offers" available exclusively for members. So far, Nintendo hasn't revealed many details about what these offers will entail, but we've gotten a look at the first ones that will be available when the service launches.
First, Nintendo Switch Online subscribers will be able to purchase the newly revealed NES-style Joy-Con controllers. You'll only be able to order these if you have a Switch Online membership. Each set costs $60 and comes with two controllers shaped like classic NES gamepads, which can be used to play the aforementioned NES game library included in the service. The controllers can be charged by slotting them into the sides of the Switch, just as regular Joy-Cons, but they can't be used in handheld mode.
In addition to that, Switch owners who sign up for a 12-month subscription--either individually or as part of a family plan--will receive two exclusive pieces of gear in Splatoon 2: the Online Jersey and Online Squidkid V Shoes, both of which are based on the uniform worn by the winning team of the Splatoon 2 World Championship. The gear will be distributed to subscribers via email as a download code. If you're a part of a family plan, each member of the family group will receive a download code.
You can read more about the aforementioned offers on Nintendo's website. More offers will be added regularly, although the company hasn't shared any other details about the perk beyond that; during its latest Direct presentation, Nintendo said that it would reveal more information about special offers "in the future."
The Nintendo Switch Online service rolls out on September 18 in North America and September 19 in Europe and Japan. Subscriptions can be purchased in one-month (US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6), three-month (US $8 / £7 / AU $12), and 12-month (US $20 / £18 / AU $30) increments, while a 12-month family plan costs US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55.
Since the launch of Destiny 2: Forsaken, players have been hard at work getting ready for the next Raid. Though we're still in the dark about what sort of challenges the Last Wish Raid will have, we do know that it finally takes us away from the Leviathan, and will offer the most challenging six-player mission to date. But as many players discovered after finishing the main campaign, the new soft cap of 500 Power brings in a rather steep climb to overcome for Guardians looking forward to the next big activity.
Historically, the Power and Engram systems have undergone major changes and revisions with each big expansion, and Forsaken is no different. Ahead of the expansion's launch, the game has seen some updates to the frequency of loot drops and the systems that players have become accustomed to. With a minimum power level of 550 required for the upcoming Raid, players will have to take advantage of every resource and opportunity they have available to them to prepare for what's to come. With this in mind, we've come up with 5 useful tips to help you get ready for the upcoming Raid, which releases on Friday, September 14.
Finish The Campaign And Embrace The New Grind
Firstly, it's important that you finish the main campaign for the Forsaken DLC. While this may seem obvious, completing the story is the fastest way to reach level 50 and 500 power level for your Guardian. As you're taking on the story missions and Adventures throughout the campaign, you'll be swimming in new gear--mostly blue items--while getting accustomed to the new changes added into the Forsaken expansion. What's abundantly clear is that many of the alterations to Destiny 2's established systems have removed some shortcuts and dialed down certain methods players liked to use to get over the hump.
Once you reach 500 power level, you'll encounter the first soft cap for leveling. Going forward, most blue and purple gear found from ordinary drops, vendors, and standard missions will cap at 500, and you'll need to take advantage of the more challenging missions to steadily increase your power. But bare in mind, just when you start hitting your stride and rise in power, another soft-cap at 520 awaits. Just remember, there is no quick way to increase your strength; it will take time to steadily buff your character's stats from here on out.
Acquire Powerful And Prime Engrams
In order to overcome the steep climb past 500, you'll need to acquire the new type of rewards found from completing the harder bounties and milestones. Similar to the Luminous Engrams from the original Destiny 2, Powerful Engrams are the rare loot you can find from completing key missions and milestones around the various planets and activities you can take part in. These Engrams house Legendary and Exotic gear--the latter of which have also seen reduced drop rates. In addition to Powerful Engrams, Prime Engrams have also been thrown into the mix.
While the Cryptarch Master Rahool has taken a less hands-on role with cracking open Engrams--most of which unlock instantly--you'll need his help to open up Prime Engrams. Unlike Powerful Engrams, however, Prime Engrams require Prime Attunement, a special buff that comes only once a day. With the prime attunement, the special Engram can drop from powerful enemies in public events, Strikes, and Heroic missions, and from taking part in multiplayer matches. Though totally RNG-based, it's generous enough where it will only take a few missions to see a drop. Interestingly enough, Prime Attunement can stack if you don't take advantage of it on the day you receive it--it will carry over to the following day. The gains you can get from these special Engrams can offer up an increase of 5 power on the specific item, which may not seem a lot, but can go a long way in upping your strength. To sum it up, be sure to keep an eye out for powerful enemies in the strikes and heroic missions, and stay focused during PvP to get those drops.
Keep Up With Daily And Weekly Bounties
Though the usefulness of bounties took a backseat throughout the first year of Destiny 2 compared to the original game, Forsaken has brought them back in a big way. Over the course of the main story, you'll interact with many of Destiny 2's key characters, including newcomers Spider and The Drifter, along with other returning characters like Petra and the members of the Vanguard. Several of the key NPCs will offer daily and weekly bounties for you to take on. The bulk of these bounties don't require much effort and can be accomplished while engaging in other activities. While a number of these tasks will only yield glimmer, materials, and other rewards, the resources gained can be turned in for rewards to vendors and NPCs.
However, there are several high-profile bounties that are far more challenging and only come once a week. Found from Petra and Spider, some of these bounties will task you with heading to some of the more obscure areas of Destiny 2's worlds to find hidden targets. The higher-tiered bounties from Spider will have you confront the escapees from the Prison of Elders, while Petra's bounties at the Dreaming City will task you with handling many of the new location's unique events and missions, some of which are a bit more complex than they let on. But when it comes to bounties, always check in Petra and Spider to stay up to date on the newest goals they have to offer.
Head To The Dreaming City
After finishing the main story, you'll eventually gain entrance to the Dreaming City, the new end-game zone in Forsaken. While exploring the Dreaming City, you'll find several events around the map that are a bit different from what's available on the Tangled Shore and other planets. Once you visit Petra in The Strand, you can take on a number of bounties and pursuits, both of which can offer Powerful Engram rewards. From here, you can explore the area and engage with the key points within the Dreaming City.
One of Petra's pursuits tasks you with completing an Ascendant Challenge, a new weekly activity bringing Guardians to the Taken realm. By using a Tincture of Queensfoil, found from public events and chests around the Dreaming City, you'll gain access to a hidden portal on the map. Every week, this portal's location is changed from three different areas, and they can only be found after consuming the aforementioned Tincture of Queensfoil. Inside the Ascendant Realm, you'll engage with several powerful Taken while completing minor goals. It's best to complete these with a group, as you can get easily overwhelmed. Completing the Ascendant Challenge pursuit from Petra will reward you with a Powerful Engram.
However, the clear standout in the Dreaming City is the public event known as The Blind Well. Similar to The Taken King's Court of Oryx, it's a multi-tiered activity within the open world that tasks players with taking out increasingly difficult waves of Scorn and Taken. While most players can take part in the first tier challenge of The Blind Well by using a Tier 1 Charge of Light (found from most activities in the field or by purchasing them from Petra), the upper tiers are much more difficult to carry out. With that said, Tier 1 of The Blind Well is manageable. To gain a guaranteed Powerful Engram, complete the Gateway Between Worlds pursuit from Petra by clearing the activity multiple times, which will earn you an Offering. Take this item to the Oracle Engine in The Dreaming City, located in the Spine of Keres, to collect your reward.
Pace Yourself And Complete Milestone Challenges
Along with collecting Prime Engrams and completing bounties from Petra and Spider, the most important thing you can do to power up is to stay on top of your weekly and daily milestone challenges. From the director menu, you'll be able to see the available activities across the various game modes and planets that will offer up Powerful Engrams. These include vanguard Strikes, Nightfalls, flashpoint, and clearing games in the Crucible and Gambit modes. Also, be sure to keep up with your clan bounties as well, as maxing your rep can also lead to powerful engram. Along with taking on the bounties from various NPC characters, you'll be able to acquire materials and other rewards while clearing out these challenges.
As previously stated, the grind post 500 power will take some time to overcome. With the Raid requiring 550 power, and with yet another hill to climb once you hit 520, you'll need to stay on to top of all these activities and bounties in order to reach Raid status in a reasonable amount of time. With that said, there's still much to be gained from completing the game's shifting challenges, which you get you up to right power level sooner than you think.
For more info on Destiny 2: Forsaken, be sure to check out our review in progress, along with our look at the game's new lineup of Exotics for all three characters classes.
Sure, you can watch Stranger Things at home. Chances are you've done that countless times and loved it. What if you could visit the Upside Down in real-life, though? Yes, an actual Upside Down--some kind of dark dimension filled with slime and dead trees and monsters--might not be your idea of a good vacation. But what if you could take a stroll through a replica that probably won't kill you?
That's what Universal Studios has built with its Stranger Things attraction at Halloween Horror Nights in the Hollywood and Orlando parks. The haunted maze pulls visitors into the first season of the Netflix series, retracing the steps of Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) as she searches for her missing son.
GameSpot was one of a few outlets to visit Universal Studios Hollywood for a tour of its Stranger Things maze while under construction. During the tour, Universal Studios Hollywood creative director John Murdy spilled many secrets about the new maze and how his team managed to translate a show as spooky and otherworldly as Stranger Things into a live experience. We were also able to snap some photos of the maze--and get our hands on some others for your viewing pleasure.
Halloween Horror Nights opens at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Orlando on Friday, September 14 and runs through November 3. It runs on select nights through Halloween. Make sure to check out our coverage of the other TV and movie-based mazes the event is pulling off this year.
Why they needed a soundstage
Though mazes for the event are typically built in massive tents constructed around the park, Stranger Things required something more. When a soundstage on the lot became available, Murdy knew he had his solution. "Only about two months ago Family Feud was filmed in here," he said. "And now we're in."
As for why this particular maze demanded a different type of space, there were a couple of reasons. First and foremost, lighting was a concern. "There's a lot of the Upside Down where you needed to have complete control, even though we build mazes in tents and everything," Murdy explained. "Having complete control of the lighting was really important." The other chief reason was a soundstage offers a much higher ceiling than the tents, which leads to some of the biggest sets ever seen in a Horror Nights maze--including a massive scene set in the Hawkins National Laboratory.
Working with the Duffer brothers on the maze
When it comes to creating a maze based on a known property, it always starts with a pitch to the creative teams behind the movie or show. Luckily for Murdy, Stranger Things co-creators the Duffer brothers are fans of Halloween Horror Nights.
"I pitched it to Netflix initially," he said. "I didn't personally pitch it to Duffer brothers, [Netflix was] going to present it to them. And so I said, 'Well I'll send you my treatment.' And that's usually about a hundred pages. And they called me as soon as they had the meeting with the Duffer brothers and [were] like, 'You won't believe this, there's no notes.'"
While Murdy and his team have been doing this long enough that it's not often that he would get a long list of notes back, "it's rare that you get none."
"They agreed 100% with our approach," he said. "They couldn't have agreed more." That approach is to solely focus on Season 1 of the series, rather than a mix of both installments.
Integrating the kids without having them throughout the maze
While Horror Nights mazes are typically filled with actors in costume, Stranger Things presented an odd dilemma. "What to do with the kids was a big decision we had to make because obviously on the show they're all 12," Murdy explained. "We just quickly realized that's not going to work, we got to figure out how to deliver the kids in a different way."
The answer was to use audio from the first season--the voices of the kids. "There's 5.1 surround sound system throughout this sequence and multi-channel audio everywhere," he said. "So all throughout the maze, you're hearing the kids on the walkie-talkies calling to each other looking for their friend who's missing."
Keep your eyes open, though. You still might see a couple kids along the way.
Recreating the Byers home
When it came to the actual design of the maze, that's where the obsessive work of Murdy and his team began. They poured over the show countless times, studied photos, and tried to recreate everything as closely as possible to what was seen on the show. When it came to the Byers' home, that wasn't necessarily easy.
"It's set in the 1980s but really for the Byers that means the '70s because they're not a wealthy family," Murdy admitted. "Most everything they have in this house came from the '70s." That meant sourcing out furniture, recreating wallpaper patterns, and looking for appropriate touches to fill the house with, including rotary phones that the Horror Nights team had to have altered by a special effects company, in order for them to react to what's happening within the maze.
Building Castle Byers--twice
It also meant things outside of the house needed to be built, like Castle Byers--Will's fort that he uses to escape from the real world. To make sure it was accurate to what fans remember, the maze-building team received on-set photography to use as a reference. Murdy said he pulled around 30,000 pictures from the show for reference.
And when it comes to Castle Byers, that department has to do it all twice--once for our world and once for the Upside Down, which has its own fort.
How they created the Demogorgon suit
What's a Stranger Things maze without a Demogorgon scaring visitors? Or in the case of Horror Nights, several Demogorgons. If you're going to be stepping into the maze, don't freak out when the beast is suddenly standing in front of you. "This is a full-blown creature suit that our performers are going to be wearing," Murdy teased.
How does one create a Demogorgon in real life, though? While originally Murdy planned to use the same molds the show did, there was a problem. "Quickly, you realize how much is CGI," he admitted. "So like when they did the Demogorgon on set, they had a guy in a creature costume but his head inside the head petals was all a big green hood. So all of the teeth and the mouth and the movement was CGI."
Instead, the Universal team used an animated "hero" head--one used for certain shots in the series--and sculpted their own version of it for the costume. From the teeth to the head petals, the massive Demogorgon will be haunting the maze, thanks to the event's artists.
Bringing the Upside Down to life
Building the Upside Down created another challenge for the team, due to it being mostly CGI on the series. To recreate that, the Horror Nights team created a forest of trees that look rotten in a pitch-black room. From there, dozens of small fiber optic lights have been hung throughout the area, creating the creepy light orbs seen in the Upside Down. "And then we're projecting on top of all of it," Murdy said.
The process of creating this particular piece of the maze took multiple layers and steps, but should ultimately be one of the most impressive pieces of the maze.
And that includes a very dead Barb
Yes, we have all come to terms with the fact that Barb is dead. Still, you wouldn't expect a Stranger Things Season 1 maze to not shout out the untimely death of Nancy's best friend, right? Murdy and his team simply couldn't help themselves when they created this particular dead body to help decorate the Upside Down. Happy trails, Barb.
An Easter egg hunt
What's a fun haunted maze without Easter eggs to search for? Like most of the brand-based mazes that came before it, Stranger Things is filled with fun nods to the rest of the franchise. The only one we could get Murdy to point out takes place in the classroom scene of the maze, which comes near the end. In it, there's a Rube Goldberg device believed to be built by the boys in Season 1. It's the sort of thing where you won't see it if you're not looking too carefully, but noticing it helps to make the experience all the more exciting.
By Anonymous on Sep 14, 2018 10:30 pm (Produced In Partnership With League of Legends) In this episode of GameSpot Chronicle we interview game psychologists, pro gamers, and athletes to find out what's going on in the minds of great playmakers and what it takes to compete at the highest level.
It seems like WWE's upcoming PPV, Hell in a Cell, could be one of the shorter events in quite some time, with eight matches in total appearing on the Kickoff Show and main card for the evening. Sunday, September 16 could be a very happy Rusev Day indeed, as Rusev and Aiden English have a chance to win the Smackdown Tag Team Championships on the Kickoff Show when they take on the New Day. This is happening at WWE's next PPV, Hell in a Cell, where people inside of cells will experience hell.
The event will be coming to you live from the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Competitors will be locked in a gigantic chain-linked enclosure and have to duke it out. Many times, the fight explodes out of the cell, and for some reason, the superstars climb to the top of it, and someone falls or jumps off the top. It's terrifying. As of this writing, there are two Hell in a Cell matches, and there may be even more.
The event will air on PPV and the WWE Network at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET / 12 AM BST (Sept. 17). Just like every PPV, there will more than likely be a Kickoff Show before the main card starting one hour prior. There will be at one match on the pre-show.
Almost every year, fans remain on the edge of their seats as WWE superstars perform in the enclosed structure, then break out, climb to the top, and almost kill themselves jumping off of it. Considering that Jeff Hardy is fighting Randy Orton in the cell this year, that may mean Hardy will swanton off the top, and fans will collectively have a heart attack.
It's still early, but there have been a few matches already booked for the card, outside of Hardy/Orton. Brie Bella--who I thought was on Raw--teams up with her husband Daniel Bryan to take on Maryse and her husband The Miz. Both Miz and Bryan put on a fantastic match at Summerslam, so this should be a fun one. In additional, three title bouts have been booked. Former Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss gets her rematch against Ronda Rousey, and hopefully, Rousey won't ragdoll her around again like the squash match at Summerslam. There's also both the WWE Championship and Universal Championship matches as well.
At the time of this writing, there are eight matches booked for the event, but you can expect this card to fill up exceptionally quickly in the next week or so, including matches for the United States Championship.
Hell in a Cell match card:
The New Day (c) vs. Rusev & Aiden English (Smackdown Tag Team Championship) [KICKOFF SHOW]
Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell match)
Dolph Ziggler & Drew McIntrye (c) vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose (Raw Tag Team Championship)
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella vs. The Miz & Maryse
Charlotte (c) vs. Becky Lynch (Smackdown Women's Championship)
Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Alexa Bliss (Raw Women's Championship)
AJ Styles (c) vs. Samoa Joe (WWE Championship)
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Braun Strowman (Hell in a Call match for the Universal Championship with Mick Foley as guest referee)
Make sure to come back to GameSpot on Sunday, September 16 for live coverage of the event.
Plenty of news came out of the recent Nintendo Direct presentation, which included a whole bunch of Final Fantasy announcements. The 2017 remaster Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is coming to Switch sometime in 2019; it's currently available for PlayStation 4 and PC, and will also come to Xbox One in 2019.
Final Fantasy XII featured the semi-automated Gambit battle system which broke away from the franchise's traditional turn-based RPG gameplay. A neat addition to the remastered version was the option to speed up the pace of combat to make grinding through dungeons quicker.
If you want even more of the long-time RPG franchise's past, Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD is available now for Switch on the Nintendo Eshop and Xbox One digitally. And if that's not enough, a few classics are making their way to Switch and Xbox One next year, including Final Fantasy VII, IX, X, X-2. The remaster of Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, that features online multiplayer, is a Switch exclusive also due out next year.
In our Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age review, it was stated that, "Its epic, lore-abundant story and its time-tested Gambit System should also appeal to those who missed out on the mainline series' trip to Ivalice the first time around. And thanks in part to the new audio and speed options, The Zodiac Age is an ideal definitive edition: one that improves the game over its original version across the board."
Nintendo devoted a portion of its latest Direct presentation to sharing more information on its upcoming paid online service for Switch. The service will begin rolling out for players next week, on September 18 (September 19 in Europe and Japan), and now we know a few more details about its classic games library and other perks.
As previously revealed, while online services have been free on Switch since the console launched in March 2017, you'll need to have a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in order to play games such as Splatoon 2 and the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Ultimate against other players online going forward. Many of these games will receive additional features via the Nintendo Switch Online smartphone app. Splatoon 2 players, for instance, are able to access SplatNet 2 on the app--a service that allows them to view stats, the stage rotation schedule, and order gear to pick up in the game.
In addition to online play, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription grants you access to a library of classic NES games. Nintendo says this lineup will be expanded with new titles on a regular basis, but at launch, it will feature 20 classic games, each of which features some form of added online play. The company revealed the first half of the launch lineup back in May, and now we know the full list of games that will be available on day one:
Soccer
Tennis
Donkey Kong
Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros.
Balloon Fight
Ice Climber
Dr. Mario
The Legend of Zelda
Super Mario Bros. 3
Double Dragon
River City Ransom
Ghosts 'n Goblins
Tecmo Bowl
Gradius
Pro Wrestling
Excitebike
Yoshi
Ice Hockey
Baseball
In addition to those games, Nintendo will introduce more titles to the library each month. In October, Solomen's Key, NES Open, and Super Dodge Ball will be added; November will bring Metroid, Mighty Bomb Jack, and TwinBee; and December's batch includes Wario's Woods, Ninja Gaiden, and Adventures of Lolo. You can find more details about the NES library on Nintendo's website.
Switch Online subscribers will also receive other benefits, such as cloud saves. This won't work with all titles--the upcoming Pokemon RPGs, Let's Go, Pikachu and Let's Go, Eevee are among the games that won't support the feature--but it will be available for most Switch titles. Subscribers will also receive "special offers" on the Eshop, although Nintendo says it will share more details about that in the future.
Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions can be purchased in one-month (US $4 / £3.49 / AU $6), three-month (US $8 / £7 / AU $12), and 12-month (US $20 / £18 / AU $30) increments. Nintendo is also offering an annual Family Plan for US $35 / £31.49 / AU $55, which allows up to eight Nintendo Account holders in the same family group to take advantage of the service, even across different Switch consoles. You'll be able to try the service for free for seven days when it launches.
Peter recently sat down with the creators of Dragon Quest XI and he recounts some of the highlights from the interview.
This week Xur has brought back with him Fated Engrams, Sunshot, Graviton Forfeit, Wormgod's Caress, and Eye Of Another World.
(Produced In Partnership With League of Legends) In this episode of GameSpot Chronicle we interview game psychologists, pro gamers, and athletes to find out what's going on in the minds of great playmakers and what it takes to compete at the highest level.
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